Dresden Lace today

A while back I said that I would post a photo of my little Dresden Lace embroidery that I entered in a local embroidery competition. Here is a close up of the embroidery which measures approximately 10cm x 10cm.

After studying an old Dresden Lace fichu - a triangular shaped shawl -  I wanted to try and embroider a small motif using the same techniques I had seen on the fichu. The fichu has been dated to around 1760, the time when Dresden Lace was at the height of its popularity.

The motif was adapted from a design in Therese de Dillmont's book, Encyclopedia of Needlework. I used chain stitch outlines and they are filled in with pulled thread work. The solid areas like the sepals and stems are shadow work which I think adds a lovely softness to Dresden Lace.